Non-slip shoulder pad and strap

ABSTRACT

A non-slip pad for attaching to a shoulder strap of a bag, such as a golf bag, is disclosed. The pad comprises an elongated generally flat base having a non-slip pattern formed into a front side thereof. The non-slip pattern comprises a plurality of ridges each having either a triangular cross-section or a trapezoidal cross-section. The non-slip pad is generally rectangular in shape. An elongated generally flat rectangular elastic strap holder is attached to the backside of the base and slidably holds the shoulder strap between the strap holder and the base. As such, the non-slip pad may be slidably adjusted with respect to the shoulder strap for optimal comfort and carrying ease of the user. A non-slip strap comprising a strap and a non-slip pad are also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to shoulder straps for carrying items suchas bags, and more particularly to a non-slip shoulder pad incorporatedinto a carrying strap utilized on bags.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Carrying heavy bags has always been wearisome to the user. When a userhas to carry such a bag and walk for some distance, such as whencarrying a golf bag while walking a golf course, having a grippinghandle or shoulder strap facilitates carrying. Although golf bags aretypically provided with carrying handles for use over short distances, ashoulder strap provides more convenience and comfort for carrying suchbags over longer distances.

However, when the bags are relatively heavy, one of the problemsencountered is the strap pad tends to slip off the shoulder as the userwalks or otherwise moves. Further, such straps can dig into the shoulderand cause discomfort.

Various attempts have been made in the prior art to provide paddedstraps or comfortable straps for use on golf bags. The materials anddesigns of such prior art devices include foam pads, fur liners,cushioned straps and other devices aimed at increasing the user'scomfort and the strap's effectiveness at staying in place on the user'sshoulder. Unfortunately, attempts to increase comfort often decrease thestability of the shoulder strap on the user's shoulder. The movement ofthe bag and carrier strap often results in an increased incidence of thestrap slipping off the shoulder, causing potential damage and discomfortto the user.

For example, Levine (U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,904) discloses a strap for ashoulder bag including both comfort padding and non-slip materials.McClees et al. of U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,768 also addresses this problem.Additionally, Reimers (U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,044) discloses a non-slipcarry strap that secures on the human shoulder. None of the abovereferenced prior art devices have adequately solved the user'sdifficulties, as such devices still tend to slip and cause discomfort tothe users.

Therefore, there is a need for an inexpensive slip preventing shoulderstrap that is more effective at holding a heavy bag or other loadsecurely on a user's shoulder while walking, yet provides lessdiscomfort to the user. Such a needed device would be inexpensive tomanufacture, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to attach to existing bagstraps. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Because of the unsatisfactory nature of the current covers, pads, andincreased-friction attachments, the development of such an advancednon-slip shoulder strap is needed. Accordingly, it is the first objectof the present invention to provide a carrying strap for a shoulder bagthat provides maximum comfort to the user's shoulder. It is the secondobject of the present invention to provide a shoulder strap thatminimizes slippage along a user's shoulder during movement, such as whenthe user is walking, regardless of clothing material, while being easilyremoved or attached to the strap if desired. It is the third object ofthe present invention to provide a device with an aestheticallypleasing, visually attractive appearance. It is the forth object of thepresent invention to provide a long lasting and durable non-slip surfaceto the shoulder engaging portion of a shoulder strap.

The present invention is a non-slip pad for attaching to a shoulderstrap of a bag, such as a golf bag. The pad comprises an elongatedgenerally flat base having a non-slip pattern formed into a front sidethereof. The non-slip pattern comprises a plurality of ridges eachhaving either a triangular cross-section or a trapezoidal cross-section.The non-slip pad is generally rectangular in shape, but may preferablyhave rounded corners.

An elongated generally flat rectangular strap holder is attached to thebackside of the base and slidably holds the shoulder strap between thestrap holder and the base. As Such, the non-slip pad may be slidablyadjusted with respect to the shoulder strap for optimal comfort andcarrying ease of the user.

This invention is intended to minimize the relative lateral slippagebetween the bag strap and user's shoulder, even when the user's walkingor other movements cause the user's shoulder to dip slightly. The ridgesare preferably comprised of a high-friction soft rubber, soft plastic,fabric material, or other high-friction material that does not causediscomfort when resting with some force on the user's shoulder.

The invention is adapted for utilization with any of a wide variety ofbags and is intended to provide comfort to the user's shoulder incarrying such bag over a long distance. These and other objects andadvantages of the present invention will become clear to those skilledin the art in view of the description of the best presently known modeof carrying out the invention and the industrial applicability of thepreferred embodiment as described herein and as illustrated in theseveral figures of the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is bottom plan view of the invention, illustrating a pattern ofparallel ridges formed in a non-slip shoulder pad of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the invention, illustrating a strap holdingmeans of the non-slip pad;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken generally alonglines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A a is a cross-sectional view of ridges of the invention,illustrating ridges with triangular cross-sections;

FIG. 4B a is a cross-sectional view of ridges of the invention,illustrating ridges with scalene right angle triangular cross-sections;

FIG. 4C a is a cross-sectional view of ridges of the invention,illustrating ridges with obtuse-angled triangular cross-sections;

FIG. 4D a is a cross-sectional view of ridges of the invention,illustrating ridges with trapezoidal cross-sections; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the invention shown in use on auser's shoulder and attached to a bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a non-slip pad 10 for attaching to a shoulderstrap 20 (FIG. 1), such as those formed from a generally flat nylonmaterial. The pad 10 comprises an elongated generally flat base 30having a non-slip pattern 40 formed into a front side 34 thereof. Thenon-slip pattern 40 comprises a plurality of ridges 50 each havingeither a triangular cross-section 70 or a trapezoidal cross-section 80(FIGS. 4A-D). The non-slip pad 10 is generally rectangular in shape, butmay preferably have rounded corners (FIGS. 1 and 2).

An elongated generally flat rectangular strap holder 60 is attached ateach of a longer side 62 thereof proximate to a longer side 32 of a backside 36 of the base 30 (FIG. 2). The strap holder 60 slidably holds theshoulder strap 20 between the strap holder 60 and the base 30. As such,the non-slip pad 10 may be slidably adjusted with respect to theshoulder strap 20 for optimal comfort and carrying ease of the user. Thestrap holder 60 may be made from an elastic sheet material such that theends of the strap 20, even if same include relatively large rings,hooks, or other attachment means 18, may still pass between the pad 10and the strap holder 60 by expanding the strap holder 60. A strap holder60 made from an elastic material has the further advantage of holdingthe pad 10 in place along the strap 20 by spring force, yet not in apermanent fashion so that the pad 10 may be easily adjusted along thestrap 20 manually.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the strap holder 60comprises a plurality of elastic belt-loop like sections (not shown),thereby reducing the amount of material necessary for manufacturing thestrap holder 60. However, such an embodiment requires additionalassembly labor, as a plurality of the belt-loop like sections must beattached to the backside 36 of the base 30.

The triangular cross-section 70 of the parallel ridges 50 may be of anisocoles triangular cross section (FIG. 4A), a scalene right angletriangle 72 (FIG. 4B), an obtuse-angled triangle 74 (FIG. 4C), or atrapezoidal shape 80 (FIG. 4D), or a combination of any or all of theseshapes. Further, the generally parallel ridges 50 are arranged in thesame axis as the shoulder strap 20, such that the ridges 50 will engagethe user's shoulder 13 across the shoulder 13 to prevent lateralslippage of the non-slip pad 10 with the shoulder 13. This invention isintended to minimize the relative lateral slippage between the bag strap20 and user's shoulder 13, even when the user's walking or othermovements cause the user's shoulder 13 to dip slightly. The ridges 50are preferably comprised of a high-friction soft rubber, soft plastic,fabric material, or other high-friction material that does not causediscomfort when resting with some force oil the user's shoulder 13. Theridges 50 may be formed integral to the pad 10, or attached thereto inways known and common in the art, such as with adhesive, ultrasonicbonding, or fabric stitching, or the like. As such, the ridgesfrictionally hold the non-slip pad 10 to the shoulder 13, even when theforces of gravity tend to pull the non-slip pad 10 away from the user.The pad 10 maybe made of a soft rubber material, a cushioned fabricmaterial, or the like, provided that the strap holder 60 and the ridges50 may be easily and permanently attached thereto.

The invention is adapted for utilization with any of a wide variety ofbags 12 (FIG. 5) and is intended to provide comfort to the user'sshoulder 13 in carrying such bag 12 over a long distance. In oneembodiment of the invention, the strap 20 is included in a combinationnon-slip strap 15, both ends of which are connected to bag attachmentmeans 18, such as bag yokes or the like (FIG. 5). The attachment means18 may also be accomplished utilizing reinforcing patches and heavystitching, metal clips, or the like (not shown). In such an embodiment,the strap holder 60 may be made from a non-elastic fabric, rubber, orplastic material, and may also be formed integral with the pad 10. Assuch, the attachment means 18 permanently retain the non-slip pad 10 onthe strap 20.

Although the present invention has been described above in terms ofspecific materials, it is understood that various other materials andvarious dimensions may be substituted without departing from theefficacy of the invention. Furthermore, although the preferredembodiment has been described with respect to a non-slip pad 10 forattachment to a shoulder strap 20, it is understood that the principlesof the present invention are equally applicable for a wide variety ofother applications. Thus, while a shoulder strap 20 for a golf bag 12has been particularly illustrated, clearly such a device could befashioned for use with shoulder straps 20 for such other applications asski bags and tennis bags, and other applications where it is desirableto utilize a cushioned non-slip strap 20 in conjunction with normallyslippery surfaces such as clothing materials.

1. A non-slip pad for attaching to a shoulder strap, the non-slip padcomprising: an elongated generally flat base having a non-slip patternformed into a front side thereof, the non-slip pattern comprising aplurality of ridges each having a triangular cross-section; and, anelongated generally flat rectangular strap holder attached at each of alonger side thereof proximate to a longer side of a back side of thebase, the strap holder for slidably holding the shoulder strap betweenthe strap holder and the base.
 2. The non-slip pad of claim 1 whereinthe triangular cross-section of each parallel ridge is a scalene rightangle triangle.
 3. The non-slip pad of claim 1 wherein the elongatedtriangular cross-section of each parallel ridge is an obtuse-angledtriangle.
 4. The non-slip pad of claim 1 wherein the base is generallyrectangular and each ridge is generally parallel to the longer side ofthe base.
 5. The non-slip pad of claim 1 wherein the base is generallyrectangular with rounded corners and each ridge is generally parallel tothe longer side of the base.
 6. A non-slip pad for attaching to ashoulder strap, the non-slip pad comprising: an elongated generally flatbase having a non-slip pattern formed into a front side thereof, thenon-slip pattern comprising a plurality of ridges each having atrapezoidal cross-section; and, an elongated strap holder attached ateach of a longer side thereof proximate to a longer side of a back sideof the base, the strap holder for slidably holding the shoulder strapbetween the strap holder and the base.
 7. The non-slip pad of claim 1wherein the base is generally rectangular and each ridge is generallyparallel to the longer side of the base.
 8. The non-slip pad of claim 1wherein the base is generally rectangular with rounded corners and eachridge is generally parallel to the longer side of the base.
 9. Anon-slip shoulder strap comprising: an elongated generally flat shoulderstrap including at each end thereof a bag attachment means; an elongatedgenerally flat base having a non-slip pattern formed into a front sidethereof, the non-slip pattern comprising a plurality of ridges eachhaving a triangular cross-section; and, an elongated generally flatrectangular strap holder attached at each of a longer side thereofproximate to a longer side of a back side of the base, the strap holderfor slidably holding the shoulder strap between the strap holder and thebase.
 10. The non-slip shoulder strap of claim 9 wherein the triangularcross-section of each parallel ridge is a scalene right angle triangle.11. The non-slip shoulder strap of claim 9 wherein the elongatedtriangular cross-section of each parallel ridge is an obtuse-angledtriangle.
 12. The non-slip pad of claim 9 wherein the base is generallyrectangular and each ridge is generally parallel to the longer side ofthe base.
 13. The non-slip pad of claim 9 wherein the base is generallyrectangular with rounded corners and each ridge is generally parallel tothe longer side of the base.
 14. A non-slip shoulder strap comprising:an elongated generally flat shoulder strap including at each end thereofa bag attachment means; an elongated generally flat base having anon-slip pattern formed into a front side thereof, the non-slip patterncomprising a plurality of ridges each having a trapezoidalcross-section; and, an elongated generally flat rectangular strap holderattached at each of a longer side thereof proximate to a longer side ofa back side of the base, the strap holder for slidably holding theshoulder strap between the strap holder and the base.
 15. The non-slipshoulder strap of claim 14 wherein the base is generally rectangular andeach ridge is generally parallel to the longer side of the base.
 16. Thenon-slip shoulder strap of claim 14 wherein the base is generallyrectangular with rounded corners and each ridge is generally parallel tothe longer side of the base.
 17. The non-slip shoulder strap of claim 14wherein the strap holder is made from a generally flat elastic material.